White House directs agencies to maximize free, public access to scientific research

2/22/13 5:50 PM EST

The White House on Friday ordered federal agencies to come up with plans to maximize free, public access to the results of federally funded scientific research.

In response to a petition on the White House web site, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy said he issued the order Friday.

"[T]he Obama Administration is committed to ensuring that the results of federally-funded scientific research are made available to and useful for the public, industry, and the scientific community," wrote John Holdren, who is also assistant to the president for science and technology. "Moreover, this research was funded by taxpayer dollars. Americans should have easy access to the results of research they help support."

The petition, created by J.W. of Oakland, Calif. in May 2012, drew more than 65,000 signatures and asked that all federally funded research be posted on the Internet. The petition noted that the National Insitutes of Health already has a public-access policy that has not hindered the research process.

The order from Holdren directs other agencies that oversee $100 million or more in federal research funding to develop plans to make the results of that research "publicly available free of charge within 12 months after original publication." Holdren said he expects the move will spur scientific innnovation.

"Policies that mobilize these intellectual assets for re-use through broader access can accelerate scientific breakthroughs, increase innovation, and promote economic growth," he said.